Perceived Stress as a Pathway for the Relationship Between Neighborhood Factors and Glycemic Control in Adults With Diabetes.

Abstract

Neighborhood factors such as crime, discrimination, and violence are increasingly recognized as correlates of poor glycemic control. However, pathways for these relationships are unclear. This study examined stress and self-efficacy as potential pathways for the relationship between neighborhood factors and glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Cross-sectional study. Two primary care clinics in southeastern US. 615 adults aged 18years and older. Validated measures were used to capture neighborhood factors, stress, and self-efficacy, while hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was abstracted from the electronic health record. Path analysis was used to investigate direct and indirect relationships between neighborhood factors, stress, self-efficacy, and glycemic control. In the final model, violence (r = .17, P = .024), discrimination (r = .46, P < .001), and crime (r = .36, P = .046) were directly associated with higher perceived stress. Stress (r = -.5, P < .001) was directly associated with lower self-efficacy. Self-efficacy was directly associated with better general diet (r = .12, P < .001), better specific diet (r = .04, P < .001), more exercise (r = .08, P < .001), and lower HbA1c (r = -.11, P < .001). Stress (r = .05, P < .001), crime (r = .20, P < .001), and discrimination (r = .08, P < .001) were indirectly associated with higher HbA1c. Stress and self-efficacy are potential pathways for the relationship between neighborhood factors like violence, discrimination, and crime and glycemic control. Interventions aimed at mitigating stress and improving self-efficacy may improve self-care behaviors and glycemic control.